This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Discussion leading up to rename from Slytherin House
- Dalek Kan Noladti: "Justified when the existing society is seen as evil, or at least flawed — "advancing" in such a society would mean complicity (at the very least) with its systemic injustices." This actually explains the trope's appearance in many cases. Lots and lots of people view the society they live in as evil or so profoundly flawed that it corrupts everyone who participates too deeply in it. Strangely, usually the people who hold such views but can afford to get media published about them have few actual material grievances justifying their ideas.
- Buttle: Media employing the trope in this way (that enjoy much success) are rarely about the regime under which they are published in any explicit, straightforward manner; even when they are trying to be "subversive", they never, ever portray any realistic means of attacking the relevant institutions. This, and related, tropes' popularity with mainstream writers probably has more to do with the proven effectiveness of cheap populism than any real social consciousness.
Caswin: What does Slytherin's admission criteria have to do with Dark Is Not Evil?
LO Rd: It's Dark Is Not Evil on a less fantastic scale - Slytherins have traits often associated with villains, while they really aren't. (Or maybe they are, but that's a different discussion entirely.) So anyway I think it counts.
JoeyJojo:the natter on on slytherins has really grown out of hand and seem to be more focus on if the House is Always Chaotic Evil or not. i have cut it down.
